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Ming Lee Foo: JTI is placing a continuous focus on brand building |
INTERNATIONAL. Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has launched new packaging for its leading brands Winston and Camel in Latin American travel retail.
JTI, a member of the Japan Tobacco Group, said that the “contemporary and dynamic” new packaging would help boost sales in the region during the tough economic climate.
JTI said that Winston, one of the industry’s fastest-growing brands, is the number two brand worldwide “and challenging to become number one”.
Camel is ranked number five worldwide and is among the market leaders in Latin American and Caribbean duty free.
JTI Portfolio Strategy & Equity Worldwide Duty Free Vice President Ming Lee Foo said: “2008 was a truly remarkable year for JTI, driven by the accelerated momentum of our business.
“The continuous focus on brand building activities was the major feature in this achievement and will remain a key priority for the future.
“Therefore we believe that these important packaging evolutions will add further impetus to the growth of these key “˜growth engine’ brands in Latin America.”
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Camel delivered year-on-year growth of +10.3% in 2008 | |
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| Winston is now the world’s number two cigarette brand, with sales rising +13.8% last year | ||
2008 A BANNER YEAR
JTI’s sales rose by over +17% year-on-year in 2008, driven partly by the successful integration of Gallaher and the resultant expansion of the group’s portfolio.
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JTI now has three of the world’s top five brands (Winston, Camel and Mild Seven). Winston grew by +13.8% year-on-year in 2008 while Camel gained +10.3%.
JTI Head of Worldwide Duty Free David Francis said the constant focus on brand-building activities was the major driver of growth and will remain a key priority.
“In duty free we extended our portfolio of successful brands with Winston Super Slims and Winston Premier and attained extended geographical coverage of brands like Glamour, Sobranie and Mayfair in Asia, the Middle East and America,” he said.
Francis insisted the brand-building activity will continue in 2009 despite the global financial crisis. “Particularly in difficult times the tobacco category is expected to be very resilient, as we have experienced previously.
“We will continue to invest in our brands to fuel ongoing top-line growth in order to overcome these difficulties and emerge as an even stronger company.”
He continued: “We are prepared for the upcoming challenges and ready to develop joint initiatives with our trade partners to address the issues as they arise.
“The key lesson learned from recent history is that if you put the right strategies in place, as JTI does, you can continue to have a profitable and sustainable business even in adverse conditions,” he concluded.
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Source: Japan Tobacco International |
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